from breath to pen

5 October 2021

I live in a landlocked house, pressed against the highway. I feel it all the more intensely whenever I return from Monhegan. The sounds outside my window:

waves replaced by white noise

 Invariably I find myself caught between the two:

an arrival, a departure, and always the space between

autumn rhythm ~ seasonal change

Departures and arrivals are never seamless, especially when crossing by sea.

Even when the journey occurs without incident.

This time

no car accident curtailed my arrival, and

no knee surgery awaits me on the other side,

still, there is much to attend…

As I attempt to find my own autumn rhythm I’m leaning into these wonderful words from Ann Herbert about Pollock and painting:

Maybe you are trying to find your straight line when actually you are about curving, wiggling streams of many different colors and about drops that are nothing like a perfect circle and exude beauty.

I’m keeping this brief because I have a lot of good things going on, so keep reading.

But before I go, the best advice from the wisest eight-year-old ever. Emma Knight, I love you, whoever you are!

I hope you can join me for some upcoming events in Rochester and online ~ all the details below!

As always thank you for reading ~ I would not be who I am without your support and encouragement.

xo

this is my practice ~ to be just sew

in the news

this week

ROC the MIC Productions

presents

Listen To Your Mother, Rochester

I’m honored to be a member of the extraordinary 2020 cast!

Join us as we (finally) share in story

Saturday, October 9 ~ 7:30 pm

Hochstein Performance Hall

in person & live stream options available!

upcoming workshop

in partnership with

Yoga for Eating Disorders

October 16, 2-4 pm

Quieting the Voices of Imposter Syndrome

Join me for unique virtual workshop about Quieting the Voices of Imposter Syndrome because let’s be honest:

Who hasn’t suffered from Imposter Poster syndrome at one time or another?

Who DOESN’T question their own ability to teach, to lead, and be of service to others?

Fun fact: that was my own first impression when I saw myself described as a Narrative Medicine “Expert”

Are they talking about me??

And yet it is the work I’ve lived, the work I’ve written, studied and taught throughout my life, even before I knew it to be known as Narrative Medicine.

I suspect you have these moments too

So, how can we flip the question from “who me?" to

Of course. It could only be me.

How do we allow our questioning become our calling?

Join me in a thoughtful conversation about how we can forge a deeper relationship with ourselves, and the powerful work we do as teachers, leaders and healers, to trust that no better (personal) past could bring us to our own spectacular now and be of service to others along their own healing journey.

Using the tools of Narrative Medicine I’ll guide you in creative contemplative practices, offering guidance to become closer listeners to those we work with as well as to our own embodied selves.

Want to know if this workshop is right for you? Send me a message or share this email with those who might find it of service.

gathering (in grace) notes

our virtual circle continues

October 11, 7-8:00 pm ET

an hour of guided meditation & journaling in community

no previous writing experience required

bring your curiosity, a willingness to practice, a pen & paper

upcoming:

two extraordinary retreats on island

When Women Were Birds:

murmuration, memoir & meditation

Sept 14-18, 2022

and

An Everlasting Meal:

writing, recipes & rasas

Sept 28 - October 2, 2022

Monhegan, Maine

SAVE THE DATE ~ REGISTRATION OPENS JANUARY 1

2021 retreat highlights

Monhegan taught me that all I need is me ~ Val G, Rochester, NY

and

yoga continues @ROCovery Fitness every Thursday in October

4:45 ~ 5:45 pm

currently

reading

write the tale that scares you

obsessing over this Maine house

the many layers of Lorna Simpson

all dogs are rescue dogs

&

cookbook crushes are a thing

along the lines of my teen soap addiction: what we can all learn from Bennifer (seriously)

listening

writing as curating? yes please

and always Margaret Atwood

thank you for reading and for the many ways you support my work. I’d love to hear from you ~ hit reply or send a message you can also forward this to a friend or two and invite them to subscribe, follow me or share an excerpt on social media and tag me @tobejustsew ~ xo